Xbox One Sales Top Two Million in 18 Days, Says Microsoft

[Michael Epstein]

Xbox One Sales Top Two Million in 18 Days, Says Microsoft

Xbox One: More than two million served.

In case you didn't already know. People are buying a lot of next-gen consoles. Microsoft drove that point home yet again today, announcing they've sold more than two million Xbox Ones to players since the console's international launch 18 days ago. According to Microsoft, that's 111,111 per day.

"We continue to be humbled and overwhelmed by the positive response from our fans," Xbox marketing and strategy vice president Yusuf Mehdi wrote in a prepared statement. "We are thrilled to see sales of Xbox One on a record-setting pace, with over 2 million Xbox One consoles in homes around the world. Demand is exceeding supply in our 13 launch markets and Xbox One is sold out at most retailers."

Despite reports complaining about of a range of hardware [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/130183-Xbox-One-Party-Chat-Will-Get-Better-Says-Major-Nelson] issues, both PS4s and Xbox Ones having been flying off the shelf since launch in record numbers. Sony announced that PS4 hardware sales crossed the two million-mark last week.

While stores are getting resupplied, neither device is exactly easy to find at this point. In the past, such shortages might have prompted a conspiracy theory about console-makers and retailers holding back units, colluding to whip the public into hardware-buying frenzy this holiday season, but not this time. Apparently now we're just buying as fast as they can ship them.

Source: Xbox Wire [http://news.xbox.com/2013/12/xbox-one-december-announcement]


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[Ichigo]

Demand is exceeding supply in our 13 launch markets and Xbox One is sold out at most retailers."

Thats funny because i just past by a tower of around 20 XBones in my HiFi store arount the corner 30 minutes ago.
At least here in Germany no one gives a shit it seems.

 

[misg]

Honestly personal perspective on this is almost pointless. I remember launches in years past and one place is sold out the next store still had a bunch. It comes down to what a retailer expected to sale if they were wrong they can easily have a bunch sitting around.

 

[Creator002]

Yeah, I can see that. When I was going to purchase my Xbone, all my local EB Games stores (northern Melbourne, Australia) were completely sold out (mind, I called fairly late in the business day). Got it the next day though, since they restocked, but even then the store only had 4 left when I rocked up.

 

[SomebodyNowhere]

Those are nice numbers and that's nice that it is apparently selling well for them in general, but all the statistics in the world doesn't help the four my store has had for almost a week get sold.

 

[Arawn]

While stores are getting resupplied, neither device is exactly easy to find at this point. In the past, such shortages might have prompted a conspiracy theory about console-makers and retailers holding back units, colluding to whip the public into hardware-buying frenzy this holiday season, but not this time. Apparently now we're just buying as fast as they can ship them.

Stores may be sold out, but there are quite a few units up for sale on various websites. Seems many people are buying up systems only to resale them at a higher price. Much like the story where they guy in Europe paid for a picture of a Xbox One. People are exploiting the limited supply to their benefit. Not exactly a kind thing towards those that want to PLAY on the units. Almost feel sorry for them when the supply increases they'll get less than top dollar for them. ALMOST.

 

[Legion]

Considering the PS4 hasn't been released in Japan, and Playstation has always been the main console over there, I expect the difference between the two will grow quite a lot. Although the XBone is also not released in a fair few countries, so perhaps that will balance it out a bit.

Either way, the new generation is off to a good start, at least in the hardware department. I haven't heard many good things said about the new games people bought them for though.

 

[wooty]

Even as a PS4 owner, this is good news. Healthy competition is good in this business, it makes exclusive devs step up their game and its always fun to crack open the bevvies, sit back and have a good laugh at the youtube/kotaku comments sections.

 

[Alek The Great]

They're Psyching the market. Simple technique. Release too few Xbox Ones to meet demands, then act all surprised when they sell out.

It gets people hyped up. Consumer mentality is: OOoooooh, its selling well? Must be good. Gonna get me one of those.

I'd hardly call two million few, but maybe that's just me. The Best Buy near me has been getting a steady supply of them and they've consistently been sold quickly.

I'm not one to buy consoles on day one (neither have many games that interest me at this point anyway - except for the Wii U which has been out for a while now), but I can't deny that both consoles have been selling like crazy. The main Future Shop PS4 launch party in my city had a line around multiple blocks. Speaking to store clerks though it seems they've been having a tougher time with the PS4 because they've had less stock of them compared to X1 and haven't been able to keep up with demand.

The demand's there for both consoles. Even if most people that frequent the escapist are not interested in the Xbox, there's a wealth of people that do. I went to both launch parties and people seem pretty excited for both the Xbox and the PS.

 

[Caiphus]

People are cynical. As much as I'd prefer the PS4 to do better than the Xbone, it's still a good sign that people are willing to spend money on video games. And competition is still good.

I mean, there was a good chance that both consoles would fail. Before the PS4/Xbone, 2 out of the 3 previous gaming consoles performed poorly (only the 3DS has sold well; the Wii U and Vita have not). So yeah. I can't get too mad. Still hopeful that the PR failure halfway through the year hurts Microsoft a little, but eh. Whatever.

 

[Alek The Great]

So you replied to me just to nitpick my argument?

I guess you could say I was nitpicking, but I simply disagreed with your statement that too few Xbox Ones were released overall. I'm not denying that the tactic where hardware is released in short supply to create a seeming increase in demand exists, I just don't believe that's what's happening this time around (or at least is the primary cause of the console selling so well).

On the other hand, if you're not psyched about a product you're about to plop around half a grand on then you're either doing it wrong or have too much money to care so I agree in that regard that these companies need to get people hyped up.

 

[Caiphus]

So you replied to me just to nitpick my argument?

Geez, how unnecessarily aggressive was that?

He wasn't even nitpicking, really. Unless you view a minor disagreement as nitpicking.

 

[Eliam_Dar]

didn't they measure sales to retailers instead of customers as they did in some countries last gen...

 

[Caiphus]

Not very. He mistook my meaning and I was legitimately confused. Defensive response gets a more rapid answer. Clarification after the fact resolves conflict.

Better to ask forgiveness than permission.

I'm sorry; you won't convince me on this, it was unjustifiably aggressive. Even if you were confused.

As to the rest of it, I don't understand. You answered defensively (or aggressively, again I would argue) to provoke a quick response?

I would humbly suggest you follow your own principle, despite it being a clever way of saying "shoot first, ask questions later".

 

[Lightknight]

Well, good for Microsoft. They made a lot of PR mistakes and then walked their way back. I'm not going their route this time (not when there's talk of selling off that division), but I'm surprised it has been as positive for them so far. Interestingly enough, a lot of the XBO buyers I know are stating their desire to get it because of all their friends rather than the system or games themselves. So they've successfully established that social element.

It is interesting that Sony is tracking right alongside Microsoft. America was usually Microsoft's domain and the rest of the world is Sony's. Could be another disparate generation if that holds true but with Sony matching MS in America.